Lesson 1.

The Respiratory System

The respiratory system is the
organ system that aids in
breathing and respiration by
taking in oxygen and
releasing carbon dioxide.
How do the different
parts of the
respiratory system
work together to
allow us to breathe?
Why is it essential for
cells to acquire
oxygen and release
carbon dioxide?
 Try it!
Warm-Up

What Is Inside Your Chest?

1. Arrange the body

parts based on
your schema.
2. Identify the
pathway of air
through the
respiratory
system.
 Learn about It

Respiration
• Respiration - the process
involved in the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide in
organisms.

• It can be divided into breathing

and cellular respiration.

Respiration in humans
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Stages of Respiration
Breathing
• A process where the air from
the atmosphere is
transported into the lungs.

• At the same time, carbon

dioxide from the organism is
returned to the environment.
Breathing process
 Learn about It

Stages of Respiration
Cellular Respiration
• The cells convert energy from glucose
from the food that we eat into adenosine
triphosphate (ATP).
 Learn about It

Parts of the Respiratory System

Upper Respiratory Tract

• Nostrils serve as the

opening to the respiratory
tract.

• Pharynx connects mouth

and nasal cavity to the
esophagus.
Parts of the respiratory system
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Parts of the Respiratory System

Upper Respiratory Tract

• Epiglottis is a flap of
cartilage that opens during
respiration.

• Larynx, also known as the

voice box, is involved in
sound production.
Parts of the respiratory system
 Learn about It

Parts of the Respiratory System

Lower Respiratory Tract

• Trachea connects the

larynx and pharynx to the
lungs.

• Bronchi are air

passageway from trachea
to the lungs.
Parts of the respiratory system
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Parts of the Respiratory System

Lower Respiratory Tract

• The bronchi branch into

smaller tubes known as
bronchioles.

• Lungs are the main organ

for respiration.

Parts of the respiratory system

 Learn about It

Parts of the Respiratory System

Lower Respiratory Tract

• Alveoli are tiny saclike

structures present at the
end of bronchioles.

• Diaphragm is a muscle
that expands or contracts
when breathing.
Parts of the respiratory system
 Learn about It

Respiration
• Respiration that involves gas exchange in the respiratory
system can be divided two major steps:

Breathing
Gas Exchange
● Inhalation
● In the lungs
● Exhalation
 Learn about It

Two Phases of Breathing

Inhalation
• It is when the
diaphragm contracts
and induces the
decrease in air
pressure within the
lungs.

Breathing process
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Two Phases of Breathing

Inhalation

• This difference in
air pressure
between the lungs
and atmosphere
causes air to rush
into the lungs.

Breathing process
 Learn about It

Two Phases of Breathing

Exhalation
• As a person breathes
out, the diaphragm
relaxes that decreases
the size of the chest,
leading to the increase
in air pressure in the
lungs.
Breathing process
 Learn about It

Two Phases of Breathing

Exhalation
• The higher pressure in
the lungs compared
with the atmosphere
pushes the air to rush
out of the lungs.

Breathing process
 Learn about It

Gas Exchange
• The site of gas exchange
between air and the
blood is the alveoli.

• The mechanism behind

gas exchange is
diffusion.

Site of gas exchange

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Lung Capacity
• Lung capacity is the volume of air associated with
inhalation and exhalation.

• The adult human male has a total lung capacity of 6 liters of

air.

• The average human respiratory rate is 30–60 breaths per

minute at birth, decreasing to 12–20 breaths per minute
in adults.
 Learn about It

Lung Capacity
In measuring lung capacity, the following variables are
considered:

• Vital capacity (VC) is the volume of air exhaled after the

deepest inhalation.

• Residual volume (RV) is the volume of air remaining in the

lungs after a maximal exhalation.
 Learn about It

Lung Capacity
In measuring lung capacity, the following variables are
considered:

• Total lung capacity (TLC) is the volume in the lungs at

maximal inflation, the sum of VC and RV.

• Tidal volume is the volume of air moved into or out of the

lungs.
 Key Points

● The two stages of respiration are breathing and cellular

respiration. Breathing is the process of transporting air into the
lungs and releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Cellular respiration uses the gathered oxygen to produce energy.
Both are well connected.

● The upper respiratory tract includes the nostrils, pharynx, larynx,

and epiglottis.

● The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea, bronchi,

bronchioles, alveoli, lungs, and diaphragm.
 Key Points

● Alveoli is the site where the exchange of gases in the lungs occurs.

● The two major steps of respiration are breathing and gas exchange.

● The two phases of breathing are inhalation and exhalation.

○ During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts, and the chest
expands.
○ During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes, and the chest
contracts.
 Key Points

● Gas exchange is governed by diffusion.

● Diffusion is the movement of gases from a higher concentration to a

lower concentration. Diffusion in the lungs happens when there is a
difference in the concentration of oxygen or carbon dioxide between
the air inside the alveoli and the blood within capillaries.
 Check Your Understanding

Label the
following parts
of the
respiratory
system.